Don Carlo speeding toward black type targets

“We want to get to Cup week at Christchurch for the Pegasus and the Stewards,” trainer Michael Daly said. “I’m very happy with the horse and he’s coming along well, but like a lot of other people the weather has held us up.” Raced by breeder Rod Moore, Don Carlo has won four of his seven starts and he went for a break off the back of consecutive success at Riccarton. Since his return he has placed in open trials over 4 1⁄4 f Rangiora and over 4 f at Ashburton on Tuesday. “Hopefully I can find a couple of nice lead-up races to Riccarton for him,” Daly said. The son of Per Incanto is expected to get at least 7 f later on, but in the short term the focus will be on harnessing his speed. “When he’s won at Ashburton and Riccarton over 6 f he’s been strong at the line and it’s about trying to get him to settle,” Daly said. “He’s been in behind them when they are running 1.08 and he’s still pulling his block off. He’s not an erratic horse, it’s just that he wants to get on with the job.” Don Carlo has already beaten quality opposition, including the stakes performers La Diosa, Zigwig, What Choux Want, Kiwi Ida, Sensei and Residential.